Stick loom shedding means



Sept. 29, 1964 F. H. BLAKE STICK LOOM smznnma MEANS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 5, 1962 INVENTOR. FREDERICK H. BLAKE Ill:

A TTORNE Y5 Sept. 29, 1964 v F. H. BLAKE 3,150,692

STICK LOOM SHEDDING MEANS Filed Nov. 5, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. FREDERICK H. BLAKE wa wigfl A TTORNE Y5 Sept. 29, 1964 F. H. BLAKE 3,150,692

STICK LOOM SHEDDING MEANS Filed Nov. 5, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

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United States Patent Office 3,150,692 Patented Sept. 29, 1964 3,150,692 STICK LOOM SHEDDING MEANS Frederick H. Blake, San Mateo, Calif. (877 Cowan Road, Burlingame, Calif.) Filed Nov. 5, 1962, Ser. No. 235,392 6 Claims. (Cl. 139-28) The present invention relates to improvements in a stick weaving loom, and particularly to an improved shedding system for a stick Weaving loom.

Woven articles fabricated with warp materials such as strings or cords and woof materials such as sticks have been made in many forms and provide a large variety of attractive articles. Certain of these articles have been made with good materials which are accurately positioned to provide especially attractive articles. I have provided a loom capable of fabricating such woven articles using sticks of wood, metal, plastic or the like and a full description of such a loom is to be found in my United States Patent No. 2,954,055 issued September 27, 1960.

Although the loom described in my patent has proven to be eminently satisfactory, certain of the component systems disclosed therein are subject to improvement. The present application relates to such an improvement in which a new type of shedding system is provided which has certain advantages, particularly where certain special types of Weaving operations are to be accomplished.

Briefly speaking, stick weaving looms utilize a plurality of relatively strong warp materials such as strings to hold together a group of substantially parallel sticks which are generally of a flat configuration or at least present a flat configuration after weaving. Generally, the number of warp strings per unit of width is considerably less than in the usual conventional fabrics and the problems relating to the placement of sticks are also different from those encountered when using ordinary fill in general textile fabrics. However, it has been found that by utilizing accurately constructed machines of strong materials, and by utilizing comparatively large forces, the sticks and the strings may be accurately positioned to provide an especially attractive woven product.

In general, any material which may be fabricated in stick form is suitable for use as woof material in the present invention, and preferably the sticks will be composed of wood, metal, plastic, or combinations thereof. The warp materials may be any string-like material strong enough to provide the desired strength in the finished product and to provide sufficient strength for the weaving operation itself. Thus strings, cords, conventional yarns, or even filaments may be used. For example, certain filaments such as nylon can be fabricated in a filament form large enough and strong enough to provide the necessary strength properties, if desired.

In the patent cited above, the shedding system utilizes a plurality of Wheel-like units having slots therein for adjusting the vertical height of warp material-s according to the rotational position of the wheel-like members. In this way, these members presented an alternatively changing shed for insertion of the sticks by means of relative rotation of the shaft carrying said wheels. The shedding system has the advantage of providing a simple motion as well as easy threading of the warp strings together with other useful features. However, it has been found that when certain yarns were used, such as synthetic yarns, excessive wear often resulted.

The patented shedding system is also particularly suitable for weaving a fixed pattern, that is the spacing and shedding of the warp is fixed as the loom is assembled, and reassembly of the shedding system is necessary to provide changes therein. In addition, it is desirable to place the beater as close as possible to the shed in order to shorten the beater strokes and in order to improve the weaving operation by increasing the speed thereof.

The improved shedding system described herein provides improvements in the areas mentioned above, as well as other areas which will be defined more fully hereinafter. In addition, the shedding system of the improved form herein described retains substantially all of the advantages of the shedding system disclosed in my previous patents.

It is therefore a primary object of the present inven tion to provide an improved shedding system for stick weaving looms in which a large variety of warp materials may be used without excessive wear and in which the weaving pattern produced may be easily changed at the will of the operator.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved stick weaving loom in which the beater may be placed as close as possible to the shed in order to provide maximum use of the shed and allow for the shortest possible beater strokes and rapid operation of the loom.

A further object of the invention is to provide a stick weaving loom of the character described having a shedding system which is easily threaded with warp threads, but which operates according to a relatively simple motion containing a minimum of moving parts.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a stick weaving loom of the character described which is compact in construction and versatile in operation and contains a universal heddle or shedding device which can be reassembled in many different forms to weave a variety of different products containing warp ranging from string to rope and weft ranging from narrow to wide slats.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a stick weaving loom of the character described in which simple drive systems are provided and maintenance problems are minimized while at the same time providing a loom capable of comparatively rapid production.

Yet still another object of the invention is to provide an improved shedding system for a stick weaving loom in which the wearing surfaces are lubricated with Teflon and the surfaces adjacent to the warp are reinforced with bearing materials in order to provide easy operation without excessive wear of the fibers, while also avoiding the collection of lint or other materials by the lubricant. Further objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent as the specification progresses, and the new and useful features of my stick weaving loom will be fully defined in the claims attached hereto.

The preferred form of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a stick weaving loom constructed according to the invention;

FIGURE 2, a view taken in the plane of line 2-2 of FIGURE 1 illustrating the suitable drive mechanism for the shedding system of this invention;

FIGURE 3, an elevational view of the shedding system of this invention partly broken away and partly in section in order to illustrate certain of the internal parts more clearly;

FIGURE 4, an enlarged view of a portion of the shedding system including the lifters and lifter guides illustrating a position of the shed suitable for inserting the stick therethrough;

FIGURE 5, a plan view showing the structure illustrated in FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6, a cross-sectional view of the shedding system taken substantially in the plane of line 66 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 7, another sectional view taken substantially in the plane of line 77 of FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 8, an exploded view illustrating certain of the parts in detail which are utilized in the shedding system of this invention.

While I have shown only the preferred form of my invention, it should be understood that various changes or modifications may be made within the scope of the claims hereto attached without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawings in greater detail, FIGURE 1 illustrates a stick weaving loom 11 containing a frame 12 having means 13 for supplying strings from which strings 14 are drawn, a tensioning device 16, means for applying sticks including a beater 17, and rolls 18 for bringing the woven article from the loom. These components may be constructed according to my patent cited above or constructed as shown in FIGURE 1. In addition, the loom comprises a shedding system 19 constructed in accordance with the present invention.

As best seen in FIGURE 1, the strings 14 are pushed upward by the shed from a normally straight course between the tensioning device 16 and the rolls 18-. In this way, the tensioning of the string-s tend to pull them downward against the lifters on the shed so that the strings are each individually positioned according to the elevation of the lifter on which they ride. This positioning is particularly assured because the strings in the loom of this type are generally adapted to be tensioned at two pounds or greater as indicated in my patent cited above and in my United States Patent No. 2,969,813 issued January 31, 1961, and entitled Warp Cord Tensing Means for Looms; and this tensing system is preferably utilized in the stick weaving looms described herein.

As here shown, the shedding device comprises a plurality of individual units, each similarly constructed. and a foot long. In this way, modules of the shedding device may be used on looms of varying widths in which the widths vary according to an even footage. Each unit is conveniently mounted on a suitable mounting such as members 21 and 23 which are carried by loom frame 12. As shown in FIGURE 6, the member 21 is preferably located at the back end of the heddle so that the front end or end adjacent to the heater is free of a driving mechanism or any other unit that might interfere with the placement of the beater in close proximity to the shed.

Each shed unit comprises a pair of bearing plates 22 with the bearing plates being located at the end of or between adjacent units where one plate serves both units. These bearing plates are held in the desired spaced relation by a horizontal member 23 and a pair of guide members 24 and 26 having spaced opposed surfaces with each surface containing a plurality of vertically extending grooves 27 adapted to receive lifter guides 28 in spaced parallel relation.

As best seen in FIGURE 8, each lifter guide is substantially rectangular in shape and contains a vertically extending slot 29 and a notch 31 on one side of the plate. Slot 29 is constructed to allow a portion of the lifters to slide therein, and the notch 31 is utilized to hold the lifter guides 28 against vertical movement. This holding is accomplished by the strap 32 which is mounted on member 24 and extends into each of the slots 31 of the lifter guides.

It is thus seen that the lifter guides 28 form a series of chambers therebetween which are suitable for guiding the lifters 33 as they move in an up-and-down direction. In other words, the lifters are confined between the lifter guides and the guide members 24 and 26, and are constructed to fit with sufiicient clearance to allow movement and yet closely enough to prevent substantial movement away from the vertical direction in which the lifters are guided.

Each lifter 33 comprises a substantially rectangular body portion 34, a bearing member 36 for providing a surface over which the warp material may move easily, and means 37 for engaging a drive member and transferring vertical drive movement therefrom to the lifters. The lower surface 39 is used to push the lifter upward against the tension of the string 14 and the string tension pushes the lifter down as the surface is lowered. The means 37 is disposed at one side of the lifter 33 and contains a notch 38 to pull the lifter downward in the case of sticking.

The lifter 33 is constructed so that it may be oriented in either of the two positions as shown in the exploded area or FIGURE 8, that is, with the means 37 being disposed on either one side of the other. In this way, the lifters may be turned around in their relation to the shed so as to be driven by drive members either on one side or on the other side thereof. Another important feature of the invention resides in the construction of the bearing member 36 so as to be somewhat wider than the lifters 33 and extend into the slots 29 of the lifter guides 28. With this arrangement, the strings or cords which are used as warps cannot become caught between the lifters and the lifter guides nor worn by riding in a place therebetween. This construction also helps guide the lifters. The bearing members also have hard surfaces to increase their wearing ability. These surfaces may be casehardened steel or a hard rod such as a synthetic gem in rod form. For example, synthetic sapphires may be used.

In the shedding system herein shown, the lifters are adapted to be driven from one side or the other as suggested above, and the driving is accomplished by a pair of drive beams 41 and 42, each of which comprises a beam 43 which extends over the length of each module and has means for imparting vertical motion thereto, and an engagement section 46 having a flange 47 fitting within the notches 38 of lifters 33.

Thus it is seen that either drive beam 41 or drive beam 42 moves the lifter in a vertical direction depending upon which drive beam the means 37 is in engagement with. It is also seen that the lifters are divided into two groups, each independently lifter or lowered by independent drive mechanisms. However, in the embodiment shown, the drive means are synchronized together so that one drive means is positioned at the top while the other drive means is at its bottom position and vice versa. In this way, the groups of lifters are alternately disposed upward and downward to provide a shed in which groups of warp materials are alternately raised and lowered according to conventional weaving practice.

The mechanism for driving the drive means is carried in bearing plate 22 and comprises a gear system with its parts appropriately journaled therein, a drive shaft 48, and means 49 for rotating the drive shaft 48 alternately in an arc in a forward and reverse direction, see FIGURES 2 and 3. With this system, the rotation of drive shaft 48 is transmitted to a plurality of drive gears 51 which are conventionally keyed thereon through keyway 52, and these drive gears mesh with idler gears 53 which are keyed to idler shaft 54 at 56, see FIGURES 3 and 6. Idler gears 53 contain two sets of gears with one set 57 engaging drive gear 51 and the other gear 58 which is directly attached thereto driving a pair of rack gears 59 and 61. Thus as gear 58 rotates one of the rack gears 59 and 61 is moved upwardly while the other rack gear is moved downward. Conversely, as gear 58 rotates in the opposite direction the rack gears are moved.

in reverse direction with the one previously moving downward now moving upward and the one previously moving upward now moving downward. From the foregoing description, it is seen that by rocking drive shaft 48 through a forward and reverse are that the rotation is transmitted through drive gears 51 and idler gears 53 to gears 58 which cause the up and down motion of rack gears 59 and 61. Rack gears 59 and 61 are attached to drive beams 41 and 42 respectively so that as the rack gears move vertically the drive beams and the guided lifters operatively engaged therewith are sim ilarly moved.

Rotation may be applied to the shaft 48 by means of the air cylinders described in my patents cited above, or by using the double-acting air cylinder shown in FIG- URE 2. As there shown, the drive shaft 48 is rotated by an arm 62 pivotally attached to connecting rod 63 which carries a piston 64 at the other end thereof. Piston 64 is carried in the cylinder 66 with connecting rod 63 sealingly sliding therethrough in conventional fashion, and the cylinder 66 is supplied with air lines 67 and 68. If desired, other means may be used for providing partial forward and reverse rotation to shaft 48 such as a rack and pinion gear system.

The operation of the cylinder is achieved by supplying compressed air through line 67 or 68 while venting the other line through conventional valving (not shown). Thus air supplied through line 67 moves arm 62 and drive shaft 48 in the direction shown by arrow 69 until full travel of the lifters is achieved. This provides a fixed shed position with one set of lifter guides being in the upward position and the other set being in the lower position to spread the warp strings which ride thereover.

After a stick has been pushed through the shed, the compressed air source is directed to line 68, and the arm 62 moves in reverse direction to reverse the arc of drive shaft 48. This action reverses the position of the rack gears 59 and 61 and the groups of lifter guides through their drive beams 41 and 42. Another stick is then pushed through the shed and rammed into position as above, and the operation continues. All of the various operations of the loom are synchronized including the shedding system as mentioned by my copending patents cited above. However, it will be appreciated that any suitable system for synchronizing the loom movements can be used.

It has been found that the compressed air cylinder supplies sufficient force to operate all of the lifter guides is rapid fashion. and it is seen that part of the synchronization is assured through the use of the gearing system. In this connection, it is particularly important to provide gears which are accurately machined so that the various gears of the different modules may operate together without undue stress. I have also found it valuable to coat the various gear surfaces with Teflon so as to provide a lubricated surface which does not cause lint, dirt or other foreign materials to adhere thereto and reduce the lubrication and stop the machine. The bearing member 36 over which the warp strings ride may be composed of any suitable durable surface such as sapphire or other material that will provide long continuous service without injury to the warp threads or strings.

From the foregoing description, it is seen that I have provided a shedding system particularly suitable for use in stick weaving looms. It is also seen that by utilizing a plurality of slots, the lifter guides may be located according to any of a number of positions, and considerable versatility is provided in regard to the number of and size of warp materials utilized. In other words, the lifter guides may be positioned as shown in FIGURE 3 in groups of four, which are spaced seven to the foot, or any other convenient number such as six or eight per foot with pairs of warp threads being operated in each group as shown. It is also possible to increase or decrease the number of groups of lifter guides and associated 6 lifters simply by removing the cover 71 and strap 32 (see; FIGURE 8) and sliding the lifter guides out of the slots and replacing them where desired. It is also possible to change the permutation of the lifters by turning them around within the lifter guides as desired.

In addition, the lifter guides may be positioned singly anywhere along the loom. Whether used singly or in groups, the guides are preferably mounted to provide a repetitive pattern or designed overall pattern.

In the embodiment shown, the lifters are made of sufiicient thickness so that they will fit properly between a pair of lifter guides in adjacent slots. However, it will be appreciated that the lifters could be made of extra thickness so that they would fit properly between lifter guides disposed with a vertically extending slot between them. Such an arrangement could be used where extra heavy cords are to be used as warp materials.

Another advantage of the shedding system of this invention resides in the use of module forms so that parts are interchangeable and two shedding systems suitable for a loom of four foot width could be used on two such looms or combined together and used in a single eight foot loom. Although the cover 71 is shown to fit over each individual group of lifter guides, it will be appreciated that the cover 71 could be constructed of the module length, or, in this case, one foot so as to be disassembled for changes as each module is changed. However, the use of smaller covers has the advantage of easier application over the lifter guides on reassembly.

It has been found in practice that the shedding system of this invention is rapid in operation and provides many years of satisfactory service without breakdown or malfunction.

I claim:

1. In a stick weaving loom, a shedding system comprising a plurality of lifter guides, mounting means for holding lifter guides in any of a plurality of positions, said mounting means containing a pair of members having spaced opposed surfaces with each member containing a plurality of vertically extending grooves adapted to receive lifter guides and means for holding said lifter guides in position on said frame, a plurality of lifters, each carried between a pair of said lifter guides, and a pair of lifter drive members operatively connected to said lifters with each drive member adapted to drive a group of said lifters between a pair of vertical positions whereby openings are provided for insertion of sticks to be woven.

2. The stick weaving loom defined in claim 1, in which each lifter has a bearing member providing a surface of relative movement of warp material thereover.

3. The stick weaving loom defined in claim 2, in which said bearing members extend between adjacent lifter guides to prevent warp material from catching between the lifters and the lifter guides.

4. In a stick weaving loom, a shedding system comprising a plurality of lifter guides, mounting means for holding lifter guides in any of a plurality of positions, a plurality of lifters, each carried between said lifter guides for vertical movement therebetween, slots in the lifter guides, bearing members on the lifters fitting into said slots, and means for alternately lifting groups of said lifters to spread warp material and provide an alternately repeating series of openings for insertion of woof materials.

5. In a stick weaving loom, a shedding system comprising a plurality of lifter guides, mounted means for holding the lifter guides in any of a plurality of positions, said mounting means containing a pair of members having spaced opposed surfaces with each containing a plurality of vertically extending grooves adapted to receive lifter guides and means for holding said lifter guides in position on said members, a plurality of lifters, each carried between a pair of said lifter guides, slots in the lifter guides, bearing members on the lifters fitting into said slots, a pair of lifter drive beams operatively connected to said lifters with each drive beam adapted to drive a group of said lifters between a pair of vertical positions whereby openings are provided for insertion of sticks to be woven, a rack gear on each of said drive beams, a gear engaging each rack gear, and drive means for rotating. said gear.

6. The stick weaving loom defined in claim 5, in which said bearing members are constructed with hard surfaces to provide long wear.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Roper Aug. 25,

Lloyd July 24,

McDonald July 1,

Blake Sept. 27,

FOREIGN PATENTS Austria Feb. 15, 

1. IN A STICK WEAVING LOOM, A SHEDDING SYSTEM COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF LIFTER GUIDES, MOUNTING MEANS FOR HOLDING LIFTER GUIDES IN ANY OF A PLURALITY OF POSITIONS, SAID MOUNTING MEANS CONTAINING A PAIR OF MEMBERS HAVING SPACED OPPOSED SURFACES WITH EACH MEMBER CONTAINING A PLURALITY OF VERTICALLY EXTENDING GROOVES ADAPTED TO RECEIVE LIFTER GUIDES AND MEANS FOR HOLDING SAID LIFTER GUIDES IN POSITION ON SAID FRAME, A PLURALITY OF LIFTERS, EACH CARRIED BETWEEN A PAIR OF SAID LIFTER GUIDES, AND A PAIR OF LIFTER DRIVE MEMBERS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID LIFTERS WITH EACH DRIVE MEMBER ADAPTED TO DRIVE A GROUP OF SAID LIFTERS BETWEEN A PAIR OF VERTICAL POSITIONS WHEREBY OPENINGS ARE PROVIDED FOR INSERTION OF STICKS TO BE WOVEN. 